GMO Research Programme - Reports
A Review of Research into the Environmental and Socio-Economic Impacts of Contemporary and Alternative Arable Cropping Systems
Ref EPG 1/5/99
Synopsis
Arable cropping systems continually change in response to economic and social pressures such as concern for the state of wildlife and the quality of soil and water. There is an ongoing and vigorous debate about the future of arable farming. This review summarizes current information about the impacts contemporary arable cropping systems compared with alternative cropping systems in the UK and elsewhere. The review explicitly excludes reference to GMO (genetically modified organisms) as these are covered by a much larger study elsewhere.
Studies are reviewed to identify differences between systems in relation to their environmental and socio-economic impacts such as profitability and levels of input usage. The primary problem faced by this project is that almost all of the existing research focuses on individual aspects to a farm; very few studies exist where farms have been studied and compared as complete systems.
In most cases a reduction of chemical inputs and a reduction in severe soil disturbance will have ecological benefits. Mitigation measures are normally carried out with the assistance of agri-environment schemes. Large scale uptake of these schemes is likely to have widespread positive effects on fauna and flora but effects might not necessarily be large on an individual field.
Start and completion dates
Project started April 2002. Project completed Feb 2003
Final report
Available to download in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format (420kb).
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Other publications
Not yet submitted
Contact details
Contractors
Dr. Richard Wadsworth
CEH Monks Wood
Abbots Ripton
Huntingdon
Cambridgeshire
PE28 2LS
+44(0) 1487 772433Defra
Dr Nick Brickle
3/E8 Ashdown House
123 Victoria Street
London, SW1E 6DE.
020 7082 8082
gm@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Page published 9 July
2003;
Page last modified
2 March, 2004